The rainfall on Wednesday that lashed the city and nearby villages brough much-needed relief to the city residents as well as paddy farmers from the sultry weather and high humidity.

The rainfall on Wednesday that lashed the city and nearby villages brough much-needed relief to the city residents as well as paddy farmers from the sultry weather and high humidity.

The maximum temperature that remained around 40 degrees Celsius for the past few weeks came down drastically to 32.3 degrees Celsius. Similar weather conditions are expected to prevail for the next few days.

LK Dhaliwal, director, School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), said, “The rains have also brought relief to farmers, especially paddy growers. We expect similar conditions on Thursday with maximum temperature of 31.2 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature of 28.8 degrees Celsius.”

GS Buttar, head, department of agronomy, PAU, said the rains would prove beneficial to paddy farmers, as it was the sowing season.

Lakhbir Singh, a farmer from Ghangroona village, said, “It’s very difficult to work in farms in the hot weather. The rains on Wednesday brought some relief to farm labourers. This is the sowing season and rains are very important.”

Another farmer Satbir Singh shared that apart from bringing relief from the scorching heat, the rains had invited many migratory birds to the region. “If rainy days continue, more migratory birds will be seen,” he added.